Southern California -- this just in

Voter voices: Orange County voter likes Jerry Brown

November 2, 2010 | 2:40
pm

Republican Anthony Smith, 47, of Orange voted for Arnold Schwarzenegger for governor in 2003. But he felt Meg Whitman's prescription for fixing the state's fiscal problems and unemployment was "like listening to a fairy tale."

Q: Why did you vote for Jerry Brown?

A: “I think he’s going to do the job he did last time -- fixing things that are broken. He's willing to put it out there that it’s not going to be easy and sacrifices will have to be made.”

Voter Dana Bintz, 46, of Corona Del Mar said he thought Proposition 25 -- which would end the need for a two-thirds majority vote in the Legislature to pass a budget but keep the supermajority requirement for bills that would raise taxes -- was a no-brainer.

Q: Why did you vote for Proposition 25?

A: “For me, majority rule is something that we learn in kindergarten. It’s fairly ridiculous that the most crucial state event every year -- passing a budget -- needs two-thirds of the vote. That has allowed the process to be manipulated by a minority year after year.”

Jennifer Dillard, 36, of Lake Elsinore said she thought Proposition 19, which would legalize marijuana use in California, would help curb drug violence in the U.S. and Mexico.

Q: Why did you vote for Proposition 19?

“I don’t use it [marijuana], but I also don’t see why it’s such a big deal. People are getting it either way. Maybe this will help in the drug war. We can grow it here and tax it, which might help us financially.”

Ruben Acosta, 38, of Santa Ana said it’s often difficult to discern the political and special interest motives behind California’s ballot initiatives.

Q: What do you think of California's initiative process?

A: “I think they need to be simplified, rather than throwing in all this mumbo jumbo that most of us can’t understand.”

-- Mike Anton in Santa Ana

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